Aviapartner, a leading independent ground handler in Europe with headquarters in Brussels, has announced that it has signed a joint-venture agreement with the Cypriot handling company 2Serve.
This joint venture deal creates a joint company, with a view to tendering for a full ramp handling licence at Larnaca and Paphos airports. With Cyprus’ accession to the EU, the market for ramp handling services in Cyprus is being liberalised and licences for both Larnaca and Paphos are up for tender, for a concession of seven years, commencing 1 May 2008.
2Serve, a well established Cypriot company, currently provides passenger services, flight operations and cargo handling services at Larnaca and Paphos airports in Cyprus. Under the terms of the partnership, 2Serve will transfer its existing business to the joint venture with Aviapartner holding a 51 per cent shareholding in the new business. The joint venture will trade as Aviapartner Cyprus and will be headed by Ian Hay, the current General Manager of 2Serve.
On an annual basis, Aviapartner handles 28 million passengers, 229,000 aircraft and 126 million tonnes of cargo. Aviapartner generates a yearly consolidated turnover of € 370 million.